Want to escape the chaos, unwind, and explore nature? You can do all of that in Goa — and the best place to start is the Dudhsagar Plantation, a peaceful farm stay located not far from the iconic Dudhsagar Waterfalls.
Spanning around 50 acres, this organic farm lies at the foothills of the Western Ghats and borders the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Mollem National Park.
It offers a tranquil escape from the demands of busy urban life. In a conversation with Gomantak Times Digital, Ashok and Ajit Malkarnekar, who run the plantation, share more about this serene retreat.
How would you describe the essence of the experience you offer to guests at Dudhsagar Plantation?
ASHOK: Our place is all about reconnecting with our rural roots. Many guests are reminded of their ancestral homes. We aim to provide just that — a very home-like atmosphere in a rural and natural environment.
We have five cottages on our 50-acre plantation, so a key feature is the luxury of space — inviting guests to take long walks on our trails, swim in the nearby river or in our natural water pool — luxuries that are becoming increasingly rare.
Our place feels like a botanical garden, bird park, and butterfly sanctuary all rolled into one.
The property has been operational since 2014. What was the initial vision behind establishing Dudhsagar Plantation?
ASHOK: It is evolving just the way we envisaged it — a model for ecologically sensitive, low-impact, responsible tourism. We've observed that the natural and peaceful environment is highly conducive to yoga, meditation, and other health-related activities, as well as creative pursuits like painting and writing.
We already host a few yoga retreats, meditation workshops, and creative programs — and you can expect to see more of these in the near future. Starting this May, we are offering a workshop on transcendental meditation.
Being a family-run establishment, how do you manage the running of Dudhsagar Plantation?
ASHOK: My father, Ajit, and I live at the plantation more or less year-round, and we are actively involved in the day-to-day operations and management of our team of ten.
My father focuses more on the agricultural operations, while I focus on the farm-stay.
Being a sustainable property, could you explain some of the sustainable practices you've implemented and how you minimise the environmental impact?
ASHOK: The agricultural and conservation activities began in the 1980s on a barren piece of land. We have utilised traditional, non-mechanised methods to reverse degradation and restore the land into a vibrant and biodiverse ecosystem.
We’ve been practicing organic farming for over 40 years.
We already host a few yoga retreats, meditation workshops and creative programs — and you can expect to see more of these in the near future. Starting this May, we are offering a workshop on transcendental meditation.
Ashok Malkarnekar, owner of Dudhsagar Planatation
AJIT: We do not use chemicals (insecticides or mineral fertilisers) and largely apply principles of circularity to maximize resource efficiency.
We set up a biogas digester in the early years (more than 35 years ago), which still provides us with cooking gas, handles part of our backwater and supplies us with valuable manure for our farming operations. We primarily use native or local varieties for planting.
ASHOK: On the farmstay, our accommodations are built using local materials in a vernacular style. We focus on well-ventilated designs that are open to nature, reducing the energy and carbon footprint, and make judicious use of lighting and use energy-saving LEDs.
Our pool features plant-based filtration and is completely chlorine-free. Drinking water is provided in glass bottles with free refills. We do not sell packaged drinking water, and guests are encouraged to carry their own reusable water bottles.
We have also minimised single-use amenities in the rooms. Empty bottles and glass jars are reused whenever possible.
How do you weave Goan culture in the stays?
ASHOK: We work with local students to organise performances of traditional dances and musical evenings as part of our retreats. We also introduce our guests to traditional and artisanal practices, such as feni production.
Can you tell us about the activities and experiences guests can expect?
ASHOK: Our property offers a wide range of options, both on-site and off-site. We help our guests tailor their stay to suit their preferences—whether they’d like to spend more time on-site or explore the neighborhood. It also depends on the level of physical activity preferred etc. We recommend a stay of at least five days to fully enjoy our property and its surroundings.
ASHOK: We run a heritage on-site, where we continue to produce cashew feni and have recently launched our small artisanal batch of the brand Ouro as a way of preserving and promoting traditional production methods.
During the cashew season (March to May), we host 'Finding Feni,' a farm-to-bottle experience.
Our guests participate in the journey of the cashew from farm to bottle, starting with the harvest, stomping the fruits, and distillation — before ending with the tasting of freshly made urrak and feni. Guests can also try their hand at roasting cashew nuts, and enjoy a meal centered around the cashew apple.
The lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic gave us ample time to experiment with variations of traditional cashew feni — our spiced premium cashew feni, Ouro, is a result of this process.
Dudhsagar Plantation has five cottages on its 50-acre plantation, making space a key feature — inviting guests to take extensive walks on the in-house trails, swim in the nearby river or in our natural water pool —luxuries that are becoming more elusive nowadays.
FOR DETAILS:
WHAT: Dudhsagar Plantation, Goan homestay
LOCATION: Mollem, South Goa
CONTACT: +91 9765364456
E-MAIL: dudhsagarplantation@gmail.com
WEBSITE: www.dudhsagarplantation.com